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MVBrewers is a player-by-player look at the most valuable members of the 2012 Brewers, as voted on by you. Here's where we stand so far:
1. Ryan Braun
2. Aramis Ramirez
3. Yovani Gallardo
4. Corey Hart
5. Norichika Aoki
6. Jonathan Lucroy
7. Carlos Gomez
The voting for the #8 spot will open at 3 pm today.
It's difficult not to get too excited about the prospect of Carlos Gomez patrolling center field on a full-time basis next season. He more than earned the right to not be platooned against right-handed pitchers as he rebounded from a poor 2011 showing. In 2011 he hit .191 against righties and .278 against lefties. He regressed to the mean in 2012, hitting .260 against righties and .261 against lefties. Both are improvements on his career numbers of .247 against RHP and .246 against LHP. He still tends to slug better against lefties, but have a higher on-base against righties.
He also found his power. In his first five years in the majors, he hit 25 home runs combined. This season, he smacked 19, bettering his best season by 11. Where is past seasons we'd see him hit a home run and proceed to try to repeat the feet for at least three games afterward, swinging wildly, he settled down this season and found his rhythm.
In his first two seasons in Milwaukee, he combined for a total of of 34 stolen bases. In 2012 alone, he eclipsed that number by three.
Who knows what it took to get Gomez to settle in and get away from his propensity towards what I can "eager puppy." Whatever his batting numbers are, he'll continue to be an asset in center field. The fact that he hit his stride at the plate is really all just a bonus.
In his previous five seasons in the majors, Carlos Gomez hit 25 home runs combined. This season, he blasted 19.
Best Game:
On August 8 the Brewers beat the Reds 3-2 and Gomez had a hand in each of Milwaukee's runs. He had 2 RBI and scored the game winner in the bottom of the eighth. He had five total bases, a stolen base and a home run.
Contract Status:
Gomez is arbitration eligible through Super Two designation. 2013 is his final year of arby and he will be a free agent in 2014. In 2012 he and the Brewers avoided arbitration when he signed a one-year, $1,962,500 contract that included a $25,000 bonus for plate appearance numbers (every 25 from 450-525)